No going ahead with nuclear deal without UPA-Left panel's nod:CPM

New Delhi, Nov 26 (UNI) Seeking to dispel doubts that the government was proceeding with initialising the nuclear deal with the US in the wake of negotiations with the IAEA for India specific safeguards, the CPI(M) today said it was not possible without the go ahead by the UPA-Left panel over the deal.

''Whatever be the outcome of the negotiations with the IAEA, the government will discuss it at the UPA-Left comittee to decide whether to go ahead with it or not,'' senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said.

He said the party will put its stand and the reasons for the opposition of the deal before Parliament, when it resumes debate over the Indo-US nuclear deal tomorrow under rule 193.

Answering a specific question, the Communist leader made it clear that the Left opposed the deal on the grounds that it was not in the national interest, and hinders pursuing an independent foreign policy and the strategic weapons programme.

Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar is holding discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna to evolve an India specific safeguards agreement, vital to resumption of nuclear commerce and the initialisation of the nuclear deal with the US. Once the agreement comes through, the deal has to be ratified by the Nuclear Suppliers Group and then finally the US Congress.

UNI